How to Buy an MP3 Player

Getting an iPod might seem like a no-brainer, but there are still some high-quality non-Apple MP3 players out there. Here's how to figure out which player type is right for you.

OB Roundup

Even though many of us have ditched our MP3 players in favor of cell phones or tablets that can play our digital music, the dedicated portable media player (PMP) market does still exist. It might not feel like it, though, since Apple's iPod line has evolved dramatically in the ten-plus years since its inception, and enjoys the lion's share of that ever-shrinking market. But an iPod isn't an automatic choice for everyone, and there are still some worthy competitors to consider. Whether you live in the iTunes ecosystem or not, considering the following points will choose your ideal PMP.

Capacity: Flash Memory or Hard Drive? While there are very few models available these days, hard-disk-based players offer the highest storage capacities. They're ideal if you want to carry all of your media in your pocket, or if you want your player to double as an external hard drive. They're also great for audiophiles that prefer to listen to Apple Lossless or uncompressed WAV files, which duplicate exactly what you'd hear on an audio CD.

Most people don't need that much storage, however, and hard-disk players have a serious disadvantage: They're far more fragile than their flash-memory-based counterparts. While Apple still currently offers the iPod line in hard-disk and flash-memory flavors, most other companies have phased out hard-disk devices altogether, though you might still find an older Archos or Creative player from a third-party online retailer or on eBay for a great price. The largest, major-brand flash players available currently top out at 64GB of on-board storage, and have been stuck there for a couple of years, but if they advance to 128GB, it will likely kill the hard-drive player altogether. Luckily, many (non-Apple) players integrate an SD card slot to expand your storage space. Overall, if you're looking for maximum capacity right now, your best (and possibly only) bet is the hard-drive-based 160GB Apple iPod classic.

It's not all about how much music or video you can tote, it's about toting the actual device itself. What are you going to use it for? If you want to work out with your player, it's best to look for a smaller model that you can strap to your arm or clip to your shirt. Also, you probably want a more durable player to exercise with. The tiny Motorola MotoActv, is more fitness gadget than MP3 player, but it does integrate 8 or 16GB of storage for your music, making it worth considering for the gym. The delicate, largely glass iPod touch, on the other hand, might not survive a drop on the pavement during your morning run.

Controls are important, too: Do you want to put some music on your device and just listen? The tiny iPod shuffle will do the trick, offering minimal physical controls and no screen. Or do you want to be able to see what's playing and visually move around the user interface? Then you need a player with a display.

Screen Size, Resolution, and File SupportIf you want to see your album art, plan on watching movies or TV shows, or viewing your photos, you should look for a PMP with a large, high-resolution screen. Right now, you can't beat the ultra-sharp 4-inch 1,136-by-640-pixel Retina display on the latest iPod touch, but it's not the only game in town. While not as tightly packed with pixels, the Android-based Samsung Galaxy Player 4.2 has a 4-inch 800-by-480 touch screen. There's a 5-inch version of the Galaxy player too, though its display is just larger, while the resolution stays the same. And the latest version of the iPod nano once again supports video playback, and comes with a bright, albeit smallish, 432-by-240-pixel 2.5-inch screen.

Related

If you own a lot of protected content—be it audio or video—you'll want to make sure the file types you have will work with the player you choose. If you opt for an iPod, you don't have a lot of choice, but there are also file formats common to, ahem, some "sharing" sites that won't play on every device—such as Xvid for video, or the audiophile favorite, FLAC. If you're counting on loading a device up with FLAC files, you'll want to make sure your device actually supports it first. (iPods don't support FLAC, so you'll need to either go a with a different player—like the Samsung Galaxy Player—or first convert your files with a program like XLD.)

Special FeaturesThese days, to keep competitive with phones and tablets, pretty much all MP3 players do more than simply play music. The Sony W Series Walkman, for example, builds the player into a pair of high-quality, gym-friendly earphones. The SanDisk Sansa Clip Zipintegrates the subscription-based Rhapsody music service. On the higher end, the iPod touch and aforementioned Android players from Samsung and Sony offer up access to hundred of thousands of third-party apps and games, so they're just like smartphones without pesky monthly contracts. Just keep in mind that more features tends to mean a higher price tag, which leads us to...

...The Most Important Part: Price One feature everyone wants? Affordability—especially if you're also paying for a cell phone and/or tablet. While some players will cost you an arm and a leg (the new iPod touch now starts at $299!), inexpensive options abound, like the no-frills $90 Sony Walkman NWZ-E474. And if you do some smart online shopping, you can score a real bargain—even on a discontinued, but perfectly useable, player.

Heading up PCMag's reviews coverage, Wendy Sheehan Donnell is lucky enough to spend her days working with words and drooling over shiny gadgets inside the big glass box that is PC Labs in New York City. Formerly the managing editor for the consumer electronics and mobile reviews teams, she can typically be found knee deep in home theater and audio gear, digital cameras, tablets, mobile phones, and the accompanying accessories. She's had a serious crush on Apple for more than 25 years, but a tumultuous...
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